Unleash Your Potential: Apps facilitate your job search

Today's tsunami of mobile technology has enabled savvy job seekers to jump on the app wagon in search of a competitive edge.

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By Lenny Keitel

recordonline.com

By Lenny Keitel

Posted Feb. 17, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Lenny Keitel
Posted Feb. 17, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Today's tsunami of mobile technology has enabled savvy job seekers to jump on the app wagon in search of a competitive edge.

Mobile apps allow job seekers to search discreetly for positions — anytime, anywhere — and respond to postings quickly. There are apps that help with career planning, organize the job search process, alert job seekers to compatible positions, and even upload and send resumes to recruiters.

The good news for job seekers is that you only have to look as far as your pocket to find new work, because there are several helpful apps for mobile devices that can facilitate your job search.

According to CareerBuilder (March 2013), nearly one third of its traffic comes from mobile devices. In fact, its tracking shows that as many as 40 percent of mobile candidates abandon the application process when they are notified they are about to encounter a nonmobile application.

While features vary, job-search apps generally send you alerts about new postings, giving you a head start on the competition. Some actually use your phone's GPS to alert you to jobs located near you. Some allow users to apply or at least signal interest in the job — all via your mobile device.

Just about all the major job-search sites offer a free app, including Indeed, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, LinkedIn and Dice (for the tech industry).

Understand that some apps may not allow you to store your resume and apply for jobs online. However, they do keep you apprised of openings as they're posted, which provides you with a distinct advantage. Here are a few free apps you might consider downloading:

-- Glassdoor

One of the simplest job-seeking apps, it allows you to sift through a constantly updating feed of jobs based on your search keywords (such as "electrical engineer" or "secretary") and the area where you wish to work. Tapping a specific job opening takes you to a page of detailed information. If you're targeting a job with your favorite company, or by salary, this app is ideal.

-- LinkedIn

The LinkedIn app can recommend jobs, based on the keywords and data you entered in your profile — generating a list of personalized job recommendations. Like Glassdoor, it will also search for jobs based on keywords. You will even find useful buttons such as "apply for this job on the company's website." Once you submit your application, LinkedIn will suggest similar jobs that may also interest you.

-- Career Builder

CareerBuilder has a unique design that simplifies the browsing of job listings. It also has some innovative features such as calculating commuting distances based on your phone's GPS data. You can upload your resume to Career Builder and even apply for some positions directly through the app.

Remember that in a competitive job market, positions are typically posted and filled very quickly. Mobile job search apps allow you to be much more responsive and to take advantage of dead time by bolstering your productivity.

- -Lenny Keitel runs Hudson Valley Resumes (www.hudsonvalleyresumes.com), a resume writing service in Monroe. He can be reached at info@hudsonvalleyresumes.com, 845-782-6714 or 914-391-5300.